There is no perfect timeline for how substance abuse recovery treatment will work for you. Every single person is an individual, and their respective addictions are just as varied. When you work toward recovery, you begin to understand that substance abuse and dependency rewires your brain in many ways. Unlearning bad habits and forming new ones can take time, and patience is essential to the overall recovery process. However, if you’re struggling time and time again to stay sober, there may be another issue to resolve. Mental health disorders and illnesses can lead to or be further exacerbated by a substance abuse disorder, and this works the same in the opposite direction. Mental health treatment can be very valuable to lots of people in recovery.
At Oceanfront Recovery in Orange County, we know that treatment programs are never one-size-fits-all. Our unique, customized approach to addiction recovery caters directly to your needs, and we work closely with those in our care to ensure that they are receiving the best possible treatment. Our dual diagnosis program can simultaneously provide much-needed treatment for a substance abuse disorder and the possible mental illnesses impacting it. For more information, call Oceanfront Recovery today at 877.296.7477 or visit us online.
What is Hedonic Set Point Theory?
Some mental health and addiction professionals discuss a human tendency called the hedonic treadmill. This theory posits that it’s human nature to keep the same relative baseline of happiness in their lives, despite how things may improve or deteriorate in their lives. This “hedonic set point” means that no matter how hard you try to obtain more value out of life and become happier, you’ll stay at that baseline. This can be a sobering and perhaps even disturbing thought. Still, there are ways to reset your hedonistic set point, and exercises toward that end are common for people in recovery.
How Do I Reset My Hedonic Set Point?
If you’ve ever worked with a 12-step program, you’re likely familiar with the importance of gratitude to recovery. The hedonic set point has more to do with gratitude than you may think. When you experience “hedonic adaption” on the hedonic treadmill, you become accustomed to life’s pleasures. These can be drawn from relationships, hobbies, work, recreational activities, or daily life. When you become used to receiving these pleasures, you do yourself a disservice. Not only do you draw less happiness from these joys, but you also take them for granted.
Try these gratitude exercises to help you start a hedonic reset:
- Write a list of people that you’re grateful for, and on the back of that list, write a list of places or things that you’re grateful for.
- When you go about your morning or evening routine, acknowledge the things you’re grateful for out loud.
- Keep a journal. Use it as you’d like–as a diary, habit tracker, or schedule–but remember to write the things you’re grateful for each day.
- Tell someone you’re thankful for them, and then tell them why.
Access Mental Health Care at Oceanfront Recovery
Recovery on your own, including resetting your hedonic set point, can be next to impossible. Oceanfront Recovery in Laguna Beach can help. Our beautiful, comfortable facility and compassionate, hard-working staff will be invaluable allies to you while you work toward lasting sobriety. We offer several different styles of addiction therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, and dialectical behavior therapy, among others. To discover more about what we can do for you or your loved one, contact us today by filling out our secure online form or calling us at 877.296.7477.
